Kids Triathlon 2016

August 20th was the 10th annual kids triathlon.  We woke the kids up about 6:10 am and they were ready to go.  When we arrived they were already running groups and I thought we missed the memo on the start time.  Actually, Anna had just started some kids early so they could make opening ceremonies for soccer.  We weren't too worried about soccer ceremonies so the kids waited for their assigned groups.

Amelia wanted to put her arms around her brothers and it was the cutest.

My little triathletes

Amelia was first up and she was ready to go!

Getting ready to jump in

The little girl in the lane next to Amelia screamed the whole way down because of the chilly water but Amelia swam along no problem.

Grandma Snay and Aunt Sadie continued with Amelia and got her ready for the bike portion.  Up next for the swim was Colin.  Anna put him next to the wall so if he needed a rest he could take one.  Daddy stayed in the water with him though.

He did awesome!

Then Grandpa Casson continued with Colin to the bike race.

Next up Liam!  He had to swim down and back the length of the pool.

He did it all by himself on the way down but got tired on the way back, which was perfectly reasonable since he had never swum that far at once.  So, he asked dad to get in with him just in case.

Then dad got Liam ready for the bike ride and I went to catch up with the little two and see how they were doing.

Amelia was looking super cute and did her best to pedal

Such a trooper

Colin getting ready to do his laps

Kiddos going around

Colin with Grandma

Then Liam was ready for his ride and he had to do the BIG loop.

He cruised along

His little tongue cracks me up

Then he took off on his run.  Colin and Amelia had already started their run so Liam was going to catch up with them.

Halfway water break

Boys running to the finish line

Amelia got a little distracted.

Then I yelled for her as her dad pointed me out and told her to go see me.  There were also and a bunch of other people cheering for her since she was so small and cute and she came running like a champ.  I should mention she was the youngest triathlete this year!

Getting her medal

My babes

I was so proud of these guys.  They did awesome and were in such amazing moods the whole time.

Our little family.

After the triathlon we went to breakfast and then to the boys' first soccer games of the season! That's up next!

Colin is 4!

Sweet Colin is Four Years Old!  He is such a sweet little fella but he has a stubborn side to him, too.  He loves to do everything with his brother or his sister. He really goes with the flow.  He loves all things superheroes, legos, coloring, painting, kinetic sand, and play-doh.  As much as he loves playing with his siblings he also enjoys his playing alone time, which usually involves coloring or outside playing in the sand.  He says a lot of funny things and when you laugh at him he'll get embarrassed, and it's so stinkin' cute.  For example, I was giving him a bath one night and he was playing and out of know where he said "Oh Snap!"  I about died.  Then on the morning of his birthday he told me "I'm not three, three is dead." The kid cracks me up.  

Colin is going to preschool two times each week for a half day.  I was worried he wouldn't want to go once Liam switched over to kindergarten but he has seemed to enjoy it so far.  He even came home today and told me two of his friends' names.  He also seems to play a little more with friends just recently.  Before I would drop him off and he'd be hanging out by himself and be perfectly happy.  The other kids seem to like him quite a bit, especially some of the girls.  One day I dropped him off and this girl immediately came up and held his hand.  Colin didn't mind and off they went to play together.  Colin continues to be more cautious and likes to ease into new things but he is becoming more outgoing and social.  He has always been pretty social but in a small group setting.  Colin is a pretty smart kid and picks up a lot between school and his brother.  Basically, Chris and I barely work with him and he knows quite a bit. I'm a little worried he'll be bored come kindergarten for him in two years.

Colin likes to watch some TV here and there which usually involves Ninja Legos, Octonauts, and Superhero Squad.  He changes it up quite a bit though.  He is a good eater for the most part and will try most things but if he doesn't like it he will let you know (and can be very sensitive to food being too hot).  His favorites are dino-chicken, strawberries, yogurt, flat cheese (aka Kraft singles) and fruit snacks.

Colin had really been looking forward to his birthday and we had been talking about it for several weeks. When he woke up on his birthday we let him open his stuff that came in the mail but before that the boys were wrestling and Liam said "We are testing out his four year old muscles"  Liam was letting Colin win for the most part and then Colin said "Four is stronger than Five."  

He thought Great Grandma Bradley's birthday card was HILARIOUS!

He laughed so hard he threw his head back.

Colin currently wears a 4T/5T and a size 11 shoe.  He had his four year old appointment on his birthday.  I didn't remember him needing shots so I told him it was just a check up and was very wrong.  He cried when I told him he'd need shots and he wasn't too happy with me.  I felt awful.  His check up went well and he was 40 inches tall and weighs 40 lbs.  After his appointment I told him we could go to Wal-Mart and he could spend some of his birthday money.  That made him feel a little better.  He bought some Ninja Legos and we came home and built this dragon.

I took all the kids to boot camp after Colin took a good nap.  He was cracking us all up because he was doing everything with one arm.  I wasn't sure why but when we got in the car to head to soccer practice.  He said "Mom my arm hurts"  I asked why and he yelled back at me "because I got shots!"  That's when I realized his arm was sore and that was why he was only using one arm!

He used one arm at soccer practice too.  It had his coach worried (he's one of the docs I work with) and he came up and pointed out Colin was holding his chest and asked if he was okay?  Ha!  Yup! Just the worst mom ever here who made him get shots on his birthday :(

See his right arm over his chest?

When soccer was over we came home and G&G Casson picked up some Crackel Barrel and brought it to us for Colin's birthday dinner.  We all ate and then Colin finally got to open presents after his very busy day.

Colin was so excited. Here he is explaining it all to his brother.

I thought I caught all his excitement on video and realized I was not recording so here is a video of Colin discussing it all with Liam

Happy dude

The boys both got a ninja lego flyer and loved playing with those in backyard. 

Ninja flyers

After some playing everyone came in and we sang happy birthday.

All in all he had a pretty awesome day and I am so glad I was able to spend the whole day with him.

4 Year Old Preschool

August 16th was Colin's first day of four year old preschool! I was a little worried about him going to school without Liam but he has been willing and has made some new friends.  Here he is on his first day back in the actual school program (he did go all summer long).

Such a cutie

This one cracks me up with all their faces

Silly boy

Love him

Liam took this one for us.

Amelia and I had our morning together.  I did a ton of cleaning to get ready for Colin's birthday and she did an amazing job entertaining herself.  She played in the toy room and did a little dressing up.

(It's difficult to see but that's the winged helmet of the mighty Thor)

When I was cleaning my room she played in the suitcase.

Then she crashed on our way home from getting Colin.  She is the sweetest most days.

Colin had a great day and enjoyed his first day back in the classroom and seems really happy.

Kindergarten!

I'm preparing you now this is a long post about my first baby heading to KINDERGARTEN!  I'm still very unaware of how this all happened so fast!  

August 8th I was working but asked Grandpa Casson to swing by the Academy and see which teacher Liam would have for kindergarten.  Here is Liam looking for his name on the list

His brother and sister joining in.

Thursday, August 11th was meet the teacher.  Liam was super nervous and didn't want any pictures taken.

Here is his nervous/excited face.

When we arrived to his classroom we found his name and table

He sat down quietly until his teacher came to meet him

She talked to him and he was feeling so shy he barely even looked at her, ha!  She invited him to explore the classroom and check out the toys.  It took him a few minutes but he eventually did.

When we left he seemed pretty excited about kindergarten and kept asking when it started.

That Saturday night Colin and Liam were brushing their teeth and I was in kitchen and Chris was with Amelia.  Colin came running into kitchen and said something along the lines Liam and blood all over.  When I got into bathroom, Liam's loose tooth was bleeding and needed to be pulled.  He did not want me to do it but was okay with me wiggling it.  He eventually pulled it out himself after a few minutes of nervous wiggling.

It had a super jagged point to it in the root.

That night after he lost his tooth I was reading their bedtime stories and he had a downcast look on his face and he was basically staring off into space.  I paused and asked what was wrong and he said "oh it's nothing."  When I finished the book he was still clearly sad about something so I mentioned that if he told me maybe I could help.  He turned to me and started crying and said he would never get to show Ms. Mandy (his previous preschool teacher) that he lost his tooth.  He was so sad at the realization that he would not see her anymore.  I felt terrible he was so pumped to start a new school but so sad at this moment to not ever return to his old one.  He really does have a heart of gold.  Anyway, we went on with our Sunday and prepared for the new life of school everyday.  We made his packed lunch and he was literally jumping up and down the whole time with excitement.  Eventually he calmed down and we read the book "The night before Kindergarten"  and all went to bed.

On the morning of his first day of school we didn't even have to wake him up.  He got up on his own and put on his school uniform.

Our big guy!

Silly faces

Sibling photo, grandpa Casson came over and watched the younger two while Chris and I took Liam to school.

Momma and her boy

Love this one!

Liam and daddy

This is where I started to get sad but held it together.

He was so ready

First day of school Aug. 15, 2016

In the parking lot

Walking in.  Everything had to be BB8, particularly his backpack and lunchbox

Almost to his classroom

His table

Meeting some new friends

(This is where I lost it)

Once it was time to leave Liam I completely lost it and started crying.  I kept my back turned to all the others walking into the building in hopes of regaining my composure.  I gathered myself for the most part but you could still tell I had been crying and what made it worse was when people pointed it out as I was trying to leave!  Once we left Chris and I ran to Wal-Mart and ran into Melissa, she was teary eyed and said "why aren't you crying!"  and then we both started in the middle of wal-mart, good thing Chris had tissues in his pocket!

It was a change of the day for Colin, Amelia, and me.  They asked a few times where Liam was and when would he be home.  I did okay until I made lunch for just two kids and started crying again.  I still can't believe my baby is so big and starting school.  The nice thing is Aunt Trudi is at his school.  She sent me this picture and made me feel better.

They had all the kindergarteners line up before parents picked them up with hats that said "I rocked my 1st day of kindergarten"  It was the cutest.  Here is Liam and his teacher Mrs. Arnold.

Liam had and outstanding day and behaved off the charts for his first day.  When he came home I asked a gazillion questions (few of which were answered) and we cuddled while watching a show.

Liam loves school and I am so happy for him even though I miss him during the day!